RAWALPINDI, Dec 19: There are many different angles and aspects to look at your beloved. If, for any reason, you don’t know many, read Har Aik Tarf Sey (from every angle) —- Akhtar Hamidi’s latest collection of poems.

Mr Hamidi, 65, is a poet of modern sensibility who does poetry both in Urdu and Punjabi languages with a fresh, genuine and appealing touch.

Author of six collections of poems, including one in Punjabi, Mr Hamidi has written one collection of essays on criticism, a book of sketches on literary figures and two collections of Inshaayea (light Urdu essays).

Hailing from Gujranwala, the poet did his post- graduation in Urdu literature from Punjab University, and has been doing poetry since his college days. His first collection of Urdu verse entitled Lahu Ki Aag hit the market in 1970 and, since then, he has been actively associated with poetry and prose.

After doing his masters in Urdu literature, he moved to the federal capital where he joined Islamabad College for Boys. He has been associated with Halqa Arbab-i-Zauq’s Islamabad Chapter. After his retirement, he devoted himself solely to literature.

He is influenced by Mirza Ghalib, Mir and, among the modernists, Faiz Ahmed Faiz. He is steeped in classical mould of Urdu poetry, but his language is modernistic and he has full command over idiomatic expression.

Everyday expressions in Akbar Hameed’s verse assume newness. There is flow in his expression, besides a conspicuous touch of originality.

In Ghazal, he has added linguistic liberties by introducing the everyday expressions with a modern touch.

Going through his latest book entitled Har Ik Taraf Sey — mainly comprising Ghazals and some poems — one finds a surprising diversity of subjects and freshness in his poetry. There is richness of modernistic sensibility in his narration of everyday happenings. On the whole one can say his works reflect his own personality.

He has great variety in his topics, because he never confined himself to the beaten track and always remained in search of newness. He has an acumen to express his emotions, feeling and ideas in his own, distinct and self-style way.

Akbar Hameedi has directness in his poetical expression and thought. What he conceives in his creative mind, he expresses forthrightly without any inhibitions and qualms.

Above all, humanism is the distinguishing mark of his poetical thought process.